New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that new HIV diagnoses fell by 4% across the UK, from 3169 in 2023 to 3043 in 2024. In England, diagnoses dropped by 2%. 

According to the latest HIV surveillance data, England continues to perform strongly in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. For the sixth consecutive year, the country has met UNAIDS targets, with 95% of adults living with HIV diagnosed, 99% of those diagnosed receiving treatment, and 98% of adults on treatment having suppressed viral loads.

Testing in English sexual health services rose by 3% between 2023 and 2024. Among gay and bisexual men in England, new HIV diagnoses fell by 6%, from 859 to 810. Deaths among people living with HIV also decreased by 14%, from 751 to 643.

Unequal Progress Across Groups

Despite overall progress, UKHSA said the picture was not uniform.

Diagnoses decreased in London but increased outside the capital among heterosexual men. Rates also continued to rise for gay and bisexual men from ethnic minorities, who made up 35% of all new diagnoses in this group.

Young People Falling Behind

Experts raised concerns about poor testing and treatment outcomes among people aged 15-24. HIV testing in this group dropped by 7%, while rates increased in all other age brackets.

This age group had the lowest treatment rate — 96% compared with 99% for other age groups — and only 91% achieved viral suppression, compared with 98% overall.

The Terence Higgins Trust (THT) described the decline in testing as “worrying,” noting that young people were the only group whose testing rates had not returned to pre-COVID levels.

PrEP Uptake Rising but Uneven

Access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has continued to grow since NHS commissioning began in the autumn of 2020, with a 7.7% increase seen in 2024. 

The highest uptake was among White (79.4%) and ethnic minority (77.8%) gay, bisexual, and all men who have sex with men. However, uptake was far lower among Black African heterosexual women (34.6%) and men (36.4%), and other ethnic minority heterosexuals (43.9%).

THT said gay and bisexual men were far more likely to be offered PrEP in sexual health services compared with people in other groups. Among Black African heterosexuals, nearly half who could have benefited from PrEP were not offered it, compared with just 12% of White gay and bisexual men, the charity said.

“The system is failing to adequately meet the needs of Black African men and women, who have the lowest level of PrEP uptake,” said National AIDS Trust CEO Robbie Currie.

Calls to Close the Gap

Currie said that the latest HIV statistics offered hope that the UK could reach the goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 but warned that around 5000 people remain undiagnosed.

“This data is promising, but we have not turned the corner yet,” said THT chief executive Richard Angell. “We need to go further and faster, with a relentless focus on tackling the inequalities that persist.”

He said this required scaling up HIV testing, improving access to PrEP, and supporting people living with HIV who were not yet receiving treatment. 

“Get that right and the new HIV Action Plan can get England on track to end new HIV cases by 2030, once and for all,” Angell said.

Rob Hicks is a retired National Health Service doctor. A well-known TV and radio broadcaster, he has written several books and has regularly contributed to national newspapers, magazines, and online publications. He is based in the United Kingdom.